Did you know that there are more mobile devices than people? In 2014, there were 7.4BN1 devices and an estimated 7.2 billion people. Mobile is quickly becoming the most popular way to get online, even exceeding the time spent on desktop computers.2 This has contributed greatly to the growth of the app ecosystem, with consumers spending on average 37 hours a month3 on mobile apps. As apps are becoming more prominent in our everyday lives, it’s more important now than ever to learn app development.

That’s why we’re launching the second AdMob Student App Challenge, an app building competition open to students around the world. If you’re a student who loves to code or has a great idea for a mobile app, this is your chance to build an app, learn how to make money from it, and win awesome prizes. The prizes will include a week-long trip to San Francisco and a visit to the Googleplex.

To win the challenge, you’ll need to build a great app (either Android or iOS) and create a sound business plan that shows how you managed the project, gained users, and leveraged AdMob to make money. The contest will be judged by a panel of app industry leaders. To learn more the judges, visit here.

The winning team will receive:

An all expenses paid, week-long trip to San Francisco, including a visit to the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA

A featured spot on the Google Play Store

A promotional video starring you and your app

A healthy amount of Google schwag, including a new Google device

Last year’s global winner was Phani Gaddipati, who created Stacks Flashcards, an app that lets people create electronic flashcards on any subject, quiz themselves and analyze their performance. Check out his video to learn more.

In addition to one overall winner, the finalist from each of the four global regions (North America, Latin America, Europe Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific) will receive Google devices and see their app featured on the AdMob website.

The challenge starts today, and you’ll have until June 28, 2016 to build your winning app. Be sure to visit the AdMob website to learn more and register. Follow us on AdMob G+ and Twitter and keep an update on #AdMobSAC16 too, for regular updates on the challenge. .

Back in 2005, a handful of Googlers opened a small office in Kitchener - our first foothold in what is now one of the most exciting tech ecosystems in North America.

Today we opened the doors to our brand new space in the beautifully restored Breithaupt Block building in the heart of Kitchener-Waterloo. Over the years we have steadily expanded our investment in the region, and the ranks of Googlers in our Kitchener-Waterloo office have grown rapidly. Our new 185,000 sq feet headquarters will be home to over 350 engineers who work on products used by billions of people around the globe. Google’s new office in Kitchener-Waterloo.

We were honoured to have Prime Minister Justin Trudeau join us to officially open the new office. Prime Minister Trudeau was taught how to create a “3D selfie” from a group of K-W’s passionate junior engineers who participate in Codemakers, a partnership between Google Canada and Actua that creates compelling and fun STEM learning modules for kids. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau conducts a quick VR tour of Parliament Hill as part of a Codemakers workshop at Google, alongside Jennifer Flanagan, Actua CEO.

And what would the opening of a Google office be without at least a one-confetti-cannon salute?!

Prime Minister Trudeau officially opens the new Google office with a bang.

Our Kitchener-Waterloo engineers play a critical role in many of Google’s core tools and products, including GMail, Google Fiber, the Chrome browser and Google Ads. Additionally, the team led a significant portion of the software development for the new OnHub router.Google engineers based in Kitchener-Waterloo work on products that are used by billions of people around the world.

Over the past decade Google Canada has been an important contributor to the sustained growth of the Kitchener-Waterloo tech community and our investment in the dramatic transformation of the Breithaupt Block reflects our long-term commitment to growth in this region. The University of Waterloo is one of Google’s top schools for recruitment worldwide, and Kitchener-Waterloo is a major source of entrepreneurial computer science talent. Kitchener-Waterloo was recently named one of the 10 cities that will be part of Google’s North America Tech Hub Network, along with Montreal. The network provides financial support and the best of Google’s resources to startup communities that equip and nurture young and developing entrepreneurs..

We took a thoughtful approach to the design of our new office, considering sustainability not only in design but also with products and decor. In fact, we have applied for LEED V4 Gold certification for this office, which would make it the first building in Canada to receive LEED V4 status. Our design team has also incorporated features to promote both environmentally friendly and healthy choices, such as a bike locker to encourage Googlers to ride to work, a group fitness space and a rock climbing wall. And of course we’ve also included the fun stuff that everyone has come to expect from Google offices, including a meditation room, a Maker’s Lab, a games room and a Ping Pong table.
Our team has some of the brightest minds in Canadian science and technology working on a whole host of exciting projects here in Kitchener-Waterloo. We can’t wait to show you what we’re going to do next!